Insurance
Washington requires all drivers to get auto insurance, which will help pay for medical costs and damage if you’re in a crash. As a new teen driver with an instruction (learner's) permit, you won’t need your own insurance coverage until you start driving without supervision.
How Can I Help Keep Insurance Costs Down?
- Keep your grades up. Most insurers offer lower rates for students with a “B” or higher grade average.
- Investigate discounts. Some insurers offer discounts for teens when they complete driver’s education or defensive driving courses.
- Don’t get your own car yet. If you won’t be the main driver for any of your family’s vehicles and can be classified as an occasional driver of one car, you could save your family hundreds of dollars.
- Practice, practice, practice. Now is the time to drive a lot with your parents under different conditions, so you’ll have fewer surprises (and potential crashes) when you’re driving solo.
- Partner with your parents. Using a parent-teen driving agreement won’t directly lower your costs, but it could help you avoid a crash or ticket that would increase your rates.
Insurance Requirements in Washington
All Washington drivers are required to have liability insurance at the minimum levels of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage (25/50/10). Insurance companies in Washington determine rates based on factors such as your driving record, how long you’ve been a licensed driver, how much you drive, where you live and what you drive.Learn more about insurance available through AAA.
Additional resources:
- AAA StartSmart – A series of newsletters that address the challenges teens face when learning to drive.
